Svenska Handelsbanken Case Analysis

1. Answer to case â€Å"Svenska Handelsbanken† No t e b o o k: Cre at e d : 5. Org Control 2012-05-08 10:45 Up d at e d : 2012-05-08 23:31 1. Using the 7S-model, describe what are the elements and the linkages in Svenska Handelsbanken. Which one of the 7 components is vital? Provide arguments for each of your descriptions, and not mere conclusions. 7 S model consists of 7 elements which are Strategy,Structure, System, Shared Value, Style, Staff, Skills. Applying 7S model to Handelsbanken : Strategy : cost-efficiency => â€Å"low cost† competition. doing safe investment, avoiding speculation. risk control) international expansion. differentiate with customized service/products, targeting for those â€Å"picky† customer concerning about quality of service. use â€Å"network effect† for marketing. (use word of mouth to market their products). focus on small / middle sized customers. open branches close to those giant corporates. provide financial support to N ordic companies who expand internationally. Structure: Handesbanken is a typical decentralized (in term of division/geography) company, which consists of many autonomous branches. Those autonomous branches have large amount of control and responsiblity. lat management : The only layers between branches and CEO is a group of 11 regional manager. therefore the hierarchy of whole company is very flat. (add CFO or something else †¦. ) System : there is no top-down goal setting and annual budgeting. branches compete with each other in term of RoE => league table HRM system => incentive system, employee holdings (Trust company). (put into System or Staff or Share Value, ) Risk control bottom-up product development process. cost management system (both committee and branch manager), Shared Value: (culture) core : customer-oriented. need better wording ) culture of thrift. senor of ownership => from employee level to branch level. people recognition innovation growing people ( ) Au tonomous (structure ) Style : long term orientated customer focused style. (preservative) responsive to customer request. empowerment (share value or style ) Staff : recruit people who has inner drive, self-starting, committed to service. entrepreneurship for the branch manager extrovert/open/out-going Skills: with considerable banking experience. entrepreneurship skill is a must for branch manager. ross-selling skills which one is vital ? (provide evidence) shared value is vital. because it is the internal driver for other six. candidates : strategy, staff, structure. 2. What are the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) for the Handelsbanken’s decentralization approach? Provide arguments WHY these are key – base your answer on examples and arguments from your group's own business and work experiences and not on ‘copy & paste' from other sources. People =; entrepreneur. (Christian) responsibility of control cost/earning profit/risk management, down to individuals. l ocal resources and market.Customer-orientation (Christian, to provide live example) Autonomy (elaine, to provide live example from her own company to support this point). 3. What does this tell us about the key sources for success of ANY decentralized business? empowerment/autonomy (control & responsibility down to branch) foster the competition among decentralized units. use KPI to closely monitor the performance of decentralized units. Shared value amongst all branches. systematic support from head office for all units. ( ) 4. What are the challenges that Lars Kahnlund faces in this particular organization, in his efforts to drive change and accelerate growth? alance the culture of autonomy and directive approach. =; branch has strong motivation to control its own product and service. =; from perspective of entire company, new competitive products may be also needed. really hard to control the decentralized unit, because there are so many branches out there and structure is so fla t. how would he get his strategy executed effectively and efficiently ? how can we keep them in order ? too many culture in different areas, so he needs to take care culture conflicts. resistance from employees is expected. (elaborate on this later, including the perservative culture)

Holland Enterprises Essay

Holland Enterprises Most recently the firm Holland Enterprises has retained an hr consultant to review analyze and revise the current compensation and benefit structure. We have seen since 2007 a 25% decrease in the workforce due to a lack of the benefits system that is in place. My team is committed to analyze and potentially change the perception that Holland’s benefit system is unfair and uncompetitive in the marketplace. We will find that organizations excel and remain competitive when they have consistent human resource practices that align with the companies organizational goals. Increasing organizational productivity is important to any organization. â€Å"Managers know that simply paying employees more will not result in increased output and improved quality. They frequently find that employees who are overpaid or highly paid relative to others doing comparable work are sometimes less productive than their lower-paid peers or counterparts†¦Organizations realize that if they are to b e more competitive, they must change this â€Å"I’m owed it† mentality to an â€Å"I earned it† mentality. A major opportunity available to organizations to bring about this change in attitude is to reduce the fixed part of compensation packages and increase the variable part. The variable components consist of all short- and long-term incentives and awards. The kind and amount of incentives and awards must be linked directly to desired employee behaviors, contributions, or results achieved. These incentives and awards comprise a pay-for-performance program â€Å"(Henderson, 2006). In other words Holland needs to have a system in place that rewards employees fairly while exciting them to provide the very best customer service to meet the demand of the business. â€Å" Through the use of a fair and stimulating compensation system, Holland Enterprises can motivate their employees to complete their assigned tasks at the standards expected and in return the employee is compensated with a wage/salary, wage/salary add-ons, incentive payments and/or other benefits and services† (Henderson, 2006). In order to promote positive change and make the compensation strategy fair for all the organization must, â€Å"improve cost and quality competitiveness and where information overload is a problem facing all organizations and their employees, information regarding work requirements, performance standards, and organizational recognition and rewards programs must be readily available, complete, and accepted. The compensation system, therefore, must be able to transmit a message that is understood and accepted by all employees that they are valued contributors to organizational success and that the organization is willing to share the revenues from its products in an equitable manner with all members† (Henderson, 2006). In order to create some harmony and renew the faith of the people the company has decided to change the compensation and the benefit structure to become more competitive and become more in line with the companies organizational effectiveness and plan. The new plan should have a more competitive edge, one that will motivate the employees and should be in line with the organizations strategy. Organizational leaders, including those occupying the executive suites and those in charge of human resources and compensation practices, must be able to recognize and integrate the long-term strategic objectives of the organization with its short-term tactical requirements. An understanding of how organizational strategy and its related tactics interact and become integrated is becoming increasingly important to managers at all levels performing various organizational assignments. Compensation takes on many forms in any organization, this may include the obvious pay/wages, health care/insurance other fringe benefits such as paid time off, disability, bonuses and other monetary stipends. Pay may be adjusted based on how hard the employee chooses to work or what type of lifestyle the employee has. â€Å"Proper and acceptable performance of diff erent kinds of jobs requires different kinds and amounts of employee knowledge and skills, which vary significantly among individuals. In the course of their lives, many individuals acquire various kinds and levels of knowledge that organizations value. Additionally, through education, experience, training, and natural predisposition, some individuals are able to demonstrate different and greater skills than others. The worth to the organization of the individually acquired and job-required knowledge and skills is identified through job rates of pay† (Henderson, 2006). In order to construct a new pay structure and benefit system we must first look at the five major components that will factor into our decisions. These components are compensation and benefit philosophy, pay grades, ratio of base pay to incentive pay, external equity and internal equity and other types of benefits such as deferred compensation, health insurance vacation and sick leave. â€Å"There are a number of components that need to be addressed when developing your compensation systems to ensure they align with your organizational strategy and objectives. One key to remember is that your compensation strategy must help to create the work culture you want. How you structure your systems and manage the internal and external equity issues, will directly inform the culture of your organization†¦Ã¢â‚¬ A compensation philosophy is developed to guide the design and complexity of your compensation programs; this is done by identifying your goals and objectives, considering your c ompetitiveness in attracting and retaining employees, your emphasis on internal and/or external equity, and whether performance is tied to increases. Understanding what balance you want to achieve between direct salary and indirect benefit is critical in developing your overall total compensation approach. A consistent philosophy provides a strong foundation for both the organization and the employee. Without a philosophy, leaders often find themselves unsure of what to offer as a starting salary for a new employee. This can lead to offering too high a total compensation package for a new employee in relation to existing employees, or being unable to successfully hire because the total compensation offer is too low to be competitive† (hrcouncil.com). Using the five components will allow Holland to remain competitive within the industry. Pay grades are a fair way to help determine the amount of pay a person will receive. The general characteristics of a pay grade system set forth by the federal government include that there should be 15 pay grades with 10 steps within each grade; there should be a 25 to 30 percent increase from minimum to the maximum pay within each grade (Henderson, 2006). â€Å"When an organization is establishing its wage policy, it must maintain external comp etitiveness. In other words, wages need to be high enough to attract, motivate and retain talent; but, wages shouldn’t be so high that they drive labor costs beyond those of competitors in the product market. Salary surveys help to determine the pay rates of various positions† (erieri.com, 2013). â€Å"Each organization must develop its own pay policy line, which is a trend line or line of best fit that best represents the middle pay value of jobs that have been evaluated or classified to have particular worth. A line of best fit produces a trend line by minimizing the sum of the squares of the vertical deviations around the line. A line of best fit can be a straight or curved line. In either case, it is one that best represents the middle pay value of all jobs or the benchmark jobs used to establish a pay policy line†(Henderson, 2006). The ratio of base pay would be to identify the lowest and highest rate of pay is a basic step in establishing a pay policy line. After identification, the next step is to establish† what management expects to be the average or central tendency value paid to the lowest-rated job and the average pay rate of the highest-rated job. These highest and lowest average values should be the midpoint of the pay for those jobs assigned this rate when a range of pay is available for each category. When only one rate of pay is assigned to a job or group of jobs, normally the average or midpoint value is the single rate. The midpoint value is normally the marke t or going rate† (Henderson, 2006). Internal equity compares different jobs inside a single organization in terms of their â€Å"relative contributions to the organization’s objectives, whereas external equity refers to how an employer positions its pay relative to what competitors are paying. Equity reviews are completed to ensure that salaries for positions are internally consistent and remain externally competitive.External equity reviews are warranted if significant discrepancies exist between a position’s salary and prevailing salaries positions in other companies or institutions within the same geographic area. Difficulties in recruitment and retention support the need for an external equity review. Every effort must be made to ensure that equity exists and the concept of equal pay for equal work is embraced† (Henderson, 2006). Holland Enterprises need to understand that the cost of human capital is high when you are losing staff because of salary issues and benefit problems. And lastly employee benefits are a very important portion of the employee’s tenure with the organization. Most compensation components included within employee benefits are made available through some type of insurance plan. â€Å"An important group of benefit components, ho wever, is frequently noninsurance based and provides income to the employee at some future date. Employee benefits can be further classified under these seven major groups: (1) disability income continuation, (2) loss-of-job income continuation, (3) deferred income, (4) spouse or family income continuation, (5) health and accident protection, (6) property and liability protection, and (7) a special group of benefits and services called perquisites. Each of these groups contains a number of compensation components, which may have a variety of features that may be made available only to certain employees or certain groups of employees† (Henderson, 2006). The organizations that supply the benefits and compensation play a huge role in the success of the business. Security for families is key for any employee and they rely on the specific benefits and compensation that they receive and the employers rely on superior employees that will be attracted to their company. This is the exact reason why Holland should take much care when analyzing the benefits and compensation packages in the future as they must remain competitive if they would like to stay in business. The way to motivate employees is to provide a fair, competitive and secure place to work. This may be attained if Holland Enterprises will be on board with paying the workers the incentives they deserve and in turn will receive the hard work in return and keep Holland Enterprise just as profitable as ever. References Henderson, R. (2006). Compensation management in a knowledge-based world. (10th ed.). Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice Hall. ISBN: 0131494791 Retrieved from: http://www.hrcouncil.ca/hr-toolkit/compensation-systems.cfm Retrieved from: Retrieved from:http://www.erieri.com/tutorials/sa/index.html?lesson_2.htm Retrieved from: http://www.stonybrook.edu/hr/employmentservices/classification/equity_review.shtml

Response to Buckley Essay Essay

According to William F. Buckley, American people everywhere have refrained from Trying to rectify irrational vexations (32). In Buckley essay, Why Dont We Complain? he explains some situations that he was involved in where no one would complain to repair an uncomfortable situation. Through out the essay, Buckley gives three reasons why he believes that the American people do not complain. I agree strongly with Buckley theories. I think that American people do not complain in situations where a complaint is needed. The first theory that he stated is that everyone expects someone else to complain (33). One of the worst ways to solve a dilemma is to expect someone else to do it prior to you. Situations come up all the time where someone is needed to stand out above the rest of the people to get the problem solved. However, what if no one is willing to be the one who attempts to solve the situation? Does this mean the situation will not get fixed? I believe this type of situation happens more than people notice. Expecting someone else to solve the problem was one of the powerful points I felt that Buckley explained in his essay. An example that he used demonstrated this point very well. He was on a train where the temperature was very uncomfortable. It was 85 degrees in the train when the temperature was below freezing outside. He knew that everyone was suffering from the heat, including himself, but no one asked to get the temperature altered (31-32). He then stated this is because people have given up trying to rectify irrational vexations (32). They expect someone else to complain about an unpleasant situation. One example that I recall where this had occurred to me was at work while I was putting in place underground cable. It was an extremely hot day and a very hard day of work. By 4:00 in the afternoon, the water cooler was empty and I was very thirsty. I thought that everyone else was dehydrated also, so I did not pronounce anything to foreman about the empty cooler. By the end of the long day, around 9:00 at night, it was time to go home. Over that entire period, the water cooler never was filled because everyone expected someone else to tell the foreman, who was not accepted by many of my co-workers. The second theory that Buckley used is that people are afraid to state their mind (33). Are people apprehensive to complain? Buckley thinks that people can be afraid to complain. He stated that we are all increasingly anxious in America to be unobtrusive, we are reluctant to make our voices heard, hesitant about claiming our rights; we are afraid that our cause is unjust, or that if it is not unjust, that it is ambiguous, or if not even that, that it is too trivial to justify the horrors of a confrontation with Authority (33). I feel that people sometimes can be scared to fight for their cause. They are afraid what result may come from it. Sometimes I am worried to complain. I think that the cause is not worth the complaint or I may be terrified of what someone may think of me if I complain. An example that I recall where I was afraid to complain happened to me just recently. I took my truck in to a repair shop to get some work done on it. I would call every day to see if it was done, but each time I spoke to the service guy, he would tell me that the mechanic could not find the problem. He placed many new parts in my truck and still did not solve the problem. After two weeks of work, I got my truck back. It was merely a simple problem the mechanic could not locate because of his inexperience. I wanted to complain about the time-consuming service and the lousy mechanic, but I thought that maybe it was unjust because they were busy. I agree with the theory that Buckley includes because I can think of many times where I have felt this way. Should people be afraid to complain or should they always be free minded about an unjust cause? The third point that was made in the essay by Buckley states that the high-powered government is taking rights away from the people. He states, very year, whether the Republican or the Democratic Party is in office, more and more power drains away from the individual to feed vast reservoirs in far-off places; and we have less and less say about the shape of events which shape our future (36). He also says that we accept the government power to hold upon us (36). The government is responsible for the great number of American deaths in Korea and is now responsible for billions of tax dollars spent every year. However, only a few Americans are willing to stand up against the government and strive for what they feel is right. Is this because of the high-powered government? I feel that this may result in  decreasing complaints, but I do not agree completely. The government may have a lot of power over America but I think that Buckley other points support his case stronger. After analyzing Buckley essay, I started to focus on situations like those that he used as examples in the essay. I found many of the same incidents that Buckley stated in the essay true. I thought that the reasons that he uses had significance in the essay. People are expecting someone else to complain, people being afraid, and people not complaining because of the government increase in power all seem like strong-based theories to me.

Economic concepts assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Economic concepts - Assignment Example It is easy to identify, recognize and account for the explicit cost because these costs are documented in the company’s statement. Additionally, physical objects and money based transactions are usually involved in explicit costs (Arnold, 2008). Implicit cost: Implicit costs are also known as implied costs, economic costs, or notational costs. It is directly opposite to the explicit cost. Implicit costs are not actually exposed or accounted as costs. Implicit costs are commonly explained as opportunity costs or the loss of an opportunity in a specified time or condition. Implicit costs are usually related with the intangibles assets and often cannot be traced or documented. These costs include: waste of potential opportunities, wastage of time, and profit wastage. Implicit costs give up the potential paybacks and agreements in a certain transaction of business. Just place, an implicit cost is the loss of a potential profits or assets that did not come about (Gartner, 2009). QU ESTION # 2 U shape cost curve: It is a representation of how the average cost for manufacturing a single unit changes over with the passage of time. The average cost of manufacturing per unit is high in the beginning and decreases as overall production increases. It is because of the fact that the same fixed cost is shared by more units or product. However, if the marginal cost of producing one more unit increases the overall cost again starts to increase because of the diminishing returns. Hence, when it is plotted on a chart, the cost curve seems like the letter U and for this reason is known as U shaped cost curve (Leamer, 2009). Long run cost curve: The long run cost curve is also called cost function in the microeconomic theory. It relates the cost of production to the amount of production and shows the implications of the long run decisions and proceedings on the cost of production of the company. The long run cost curve is the combination of several short run average cost cur ves and is generally U shaped because of the law of diminishing returns (Mankiw, 2009). Average cost curve: The average cost or unit cost is identified by dividing the total cost of production to total number of units produced in the company. An average cost can vary with passage of time with the increase or decrease in the cost of production. The average cost curve is also U shaped because of the fixed cost being shared by increasing products and at the same time marginal cost increasing because of the diminishing returns (Wessels, 2000). QUESTION # 3 Law of diminishing return: This concept of economics stating that, as the quantity of new input (workers, materials, etc.) increases, the marginal product of an added input at same position will be less than the marginal product of the preceding input. For example, consider a plant that uses manual workers to manufacture its items for consumption. If every other factors of production stay constant, at one stage each added worker will give less output then the preceding worker. When this stage is confronted then each extra worker will give less and less returns. If new workers are continuously added, the factory will in the end turn out to be so crowded that added workers in point of fact reduce the competence of the other workers, lessening the production of the plant. Another general example of law of diminishing returns is described as follow: If the population of the city increased then per capita income is decreased. And

Financal Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Financal Management - Essay Example A project should be accepted if the NPV is positive, otherwise it should be rejected. Internal Rate of Return (IRR) - It is the sum total of cash inflows after discounting, which is equal to the discounted rate of cash out flows. The IRR technique is crucial for taking the capital investment decision. A particular project should accept IRR, only if it is greater than Cut-off rate, otherwise such project should be rejected. In case of Wandering Lights Limited, it is better to adopt NPV method rather than IRR method, because while assessing the financial viability, technical feasibility, and taking the appropriate capital budgeting decision of Wandering Lights Limited, it is suitable to undertake NPV as the capital budgeting decision. Wandering Lights Ltd has decided to launch a new product in the market. The product is garden lights. For the production of the new product the company has to introduce new plant and machinery in the business. The estimated cost of the plant and machinery is â‚ ¤3375000. In order to install the new plant and machinery the company additional fund has to be brought into the company as the capital is not sufficient to install the new facility. Wandering lights have two options before them to finance their project. Either they can issue new share or it can borrow funds. Borrowing is the method in which the company borrows fund from any institutions or banks as loans upon an agreement to pay interest at a fixed rate. Borrowings also may be in the form of different securities issued by the company. The companies have different methods for borrowing money. â€Å"There are two main methods by which a company can borrow money: (1) by issuing fixed-income (debt) securities – like bonds, notes, bills and corporate papers – and (2) by taking out a loan at a bank or lending institution.† (When companies borrow money. 2007). Wandering lights can depend on either of the following methods for financing the new project. Most

Internship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Internship - Essay Example A spouse in a junior position, for instance, may expect leniency and favors from the partner in a senior position. I feel that workplace romance may be an unfortunate thing since it is highly likely to compromise on my career growth. Problems that we experience in a relationship may extend to the workplace. In addition, issues of promotion and demotion may severely affect our relationship since it initiates competition in the relationship. Besides, I may easily feel jealous if I watch a workmate becoming close to my spouse. Managing workplace romance as an employer is a difficult task because a love relationship is an intensely emotional issue. To begin with, I would not make any policy of stopping workplace romance since such a subject resides within individual liberties. This suggests that employees would be unrestricted to either date or not date at the workplace. I would make a policy, which informs romantic partners that the organization would not participate in one’s private affairs. A couple, therefore, has to ensure that relationship issues do not infiltrate into the work

Is market research necessary for start-up-business Discuss Essay

Is market research necessary for start-up-business Discuss - Essay Example 1998.Marketing Research, P.106, Tata McGraw-Hill ). Business is a very fluid state; its states will never be constant, ever changing from time to time. Because of these constant changes Organizations are always posed with a question, what do I do next? Little can be answered with out any data to support. The collection of such relevant data gathers high importance especially for beginners because before organizations can launch their products they can understand the feasibility of their efforts through market research. 1. Formulating the problem: The very purpose of any marketing research is to identify the problem and its relevance to the organization. An ill defined problem can mislead the entire market research because of poorly defined research objectives. Initially for beginner, problems are plenty in understanding his/her own business and the general market conditions. Question such as whom to market? What to market are the real challenges for an entrepreneur? Marketing research helps in finding solutions for these and also many other issues. The concept of four ‘p’s (product, place, price, people) needs to be answered. 2. Developing Objectives of the research: The objectives of the research should be clear and specific. The objectives should cover the questions regarding the purpose of the study, Method in which the study is to be conducted, the information needs and the sources of information. The concept to be launched into the market whether it is a product or a service needs to be tested. However it is important to decide at which phase of market research the testing can be done. Normally while launching a startup business, businessmen use market research as a launching board for the product or service. Data collected has to be collated in such a way it yields information and the information so gathered can be utilized for preparation of a research report. Normally research analysis will be based on data depicted in the form of graphs and

The summary of this article by John Orlando showing the understanding Essay

The summary of this article by John Orlando showing the understanding of his point of view - Essay Example Morally wrong: It is morally wrong to downsize a company due to profitability reasons because it in effect causes a lot of harm for little benefits. The author says that one some aspects, harms and benefits are "incommensurable" - meaning it does not entail merely the loss of income on the part of the workers. He says that some statistics demonstrate that downsizing also leads to loss of homes and even to suicides. On the other hand, since investors in large corporations tend to diversify their assets, they only gain minor benefits when stock prices rise. He points to a distinction when downsizing is a means to an end: It is morally reprehensible for a CEO to layoff workers, consciously knowing that the act would boost the stock price of company as differentiated from an act when a company downsizes to boost productivity. Legitimate Expectations: For a worker, having a secure job is tied to his fundamental well-being.

Arguments for and against Death Penalty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Arguments for and against Death Penalty - Essay Example However, a common opinion in regard to the use of death penalty has not been accomplished. This essay is an argument regarding the use of death penalty. It presents some reasons why death penalty should be abolished, while on the other hand it presents several reasons why the application of death penalty is right. There are certain situations whereby I have reasoned that death penalty should be applied on some of the crimes against humanity. For example, there are situations whereby people hire killers to cause the demise of those whom they feel are a barrier to their prosperity. Others do this as a result of disputes. The most amazing thing is that those who carry out such murders would never like to be faced with a situation whereby they can lose their life. The big question is why anyone would want to terminate another person’s life while he/she would not like his/hers to be terminated. This is selfishness that does not need to be supported under all the circumstances. Case y (2000) argues that once a person kills for the first time, it is likely that he is going to take the life of another. Human beings are vulnerable to death caused by fellow humans in many cases. This is because a person with the intention of killing another is intelligent enough to way lay the unsuspecting victim regardless of the living environment. I disagree with the people who argue that assassins should be sentenced to serve jail terms whereby they get rehabilitated with a situation whereby.

Medieval Universities Essay Example for Free

Medieval Universities Essay Higher education plays a major part in todays society. Expected to continue their education beyond high school, many students attend four-year universities and colleges. The emergence of such higher education was first recorded in Europe during the Middle Ages. The origins and characteristics of these medieval universities as well as details of the students and their masters (professors) will be thoroughly discussed in the following paragraphs. These universities became the foundation of and models for the higher education of today. The Latin word universitas, or university, first appeared in the Latin text of Cicero, the word meaning the whole of mankind or the human race. The word gained educational meaning when the corporation of Paris masters and students first used universitas in 1221 to define the organized society of the entire body of masters and students. But even then the meaning of university was different. Unlike todays university, the medieval universities referred to the students and masters rather than to a building or specific place. This is mainly due to the fact that the early universities did not own buildings but used rented rooms or available rooms loaned by the church as their classrooms (Previte-Orton 622). This flexibility also gave the university the power to secede from their town during a dispute with the townspeople, a strategy used often by the scholars who were often in need of protection (Thompson and Johnson 725). Several conditions provided the way for the establishment of the university during the thirteenth century. The communal movement, or the migration of people to cities, and the formation of guilds provided a model for the scholastici, or scholars, to follow when forming universities. The existence of cathedral and canonical schools provided scholars and teaching material needed to begin such a university. The discovery and emergence of new disciplines and school manuals, translations of works, contact with the Arab world, the discovery of Aristotles treatises on logic, known as the Organon, and the revival of Roman Law also contributed to the rise of the university (Gabriel 282). The university followed two main types of organization: 1) the magisterial type of Paris, and 2) the student-university type of Bologna. At the University of Paris, the teachers or masters, referred to as the honestas societas or honorable society by Alexander Neckham in 1180, were the powers of the university. The chancellor granted teaching licenses to students, but the society instituted the requirements a student must fulfill to gain the title of master. Initially opposed to the new independent corporation, the papacy ultimately approved the university with Pope Innocent IIIs acknowledgment of the community of masters' right to act as a corporation around 1208 to 1209. An important feature of the University of Paris was its dominant position of the faculty of arts, considered there to be the mother of the higher faculties of saluberrima (medicine), consultissima (cannon law), and sacrtissima (theology). The Paris archetype was followed with slight modification by almost all the universities of Northern Europe (Gabriel 283). The second archetype was the student-university type of Bologna. The University of Bologna ultimately formed two universitates, one organization for Italian students and one for foreign students. These student organizations were originally formed for protection but eventually took over the supervision of the teaching with much protest from the doctors, or professors, of the school (Hyde 311). Bologna had been known as a center for legal studies during the second half of the twelfth century. Its fame increased due to the famous masters the city acquired as well as its teaching of Roman Law, which was forbidden in France and England in 1219. The university also offered lectures on practical sciences, such as the art of composition (Gabriel 284). The university, said to have the best school of law in Europe, had other faculties which were of more limited significance. The faculties of arts and medicine were established during the latter half of the thirteenth century. Theology was added to these in 1364, making the university one of the few to have all of the four faculties of arts, theology, cannon and civil law, and medicine. The University of Bologna came to be known as the Italian peninsulas center for legal and medical studies (Hyde 312). The students power over the University of Bologna resided in their economic bargaining force. The students paid their masters directly. This teacher/student relationship was often strained by disagreements (Gabriel 284). According to Willis Rudy, professors were known to resort to cheap tricks to gain a large audience. Students were also known to have whistled, hissed, shouted, groaned, and even thrown stones at professors who spoke inaudibly, who spoke too slowly to cover material fully, or who spoke too fast making it difficult for students to take full notes (Beeler 4). At times, the strains on the relationship between the students and their teachers became so great that the students would secede from the university in protest. Such secessions led to the forming of the short-lived universities of Vicenza (1204), Arezzo (1215), and Vercelli (1228). The students most often won against their professors (Gabriel 284). However, the University of Bologna lacked the administrative and representative unity that the University of Paris achieved with the rector, or principle of the school, whom was entitled to speak in the name of the university (Gabriel 284). This lack of unity hurt the student body during the twelfth century when student power declined, leaving the commune in charge of hiring the professors (Hyde 312). Besides organizational type, another defining feature of medieval universities was their manner of origin. Each university originated in one of three ways: 1) of spontaneous foundations, 2) of papal, imperial, communal, or joint foundations, or 3) paper universities, universities with foundation charters but never physically formed. The universities of Paris and Bologna were formed from spontaneous foundations, meaning they grew from existing schools. Oxford too had spontaneous foundations, emerging around 1208 to 1209 due to a conflict between the clerics and the townspeople. Oxford was organized like the Paris model but was close to the structure of Bologna (Gabriel 284). The first university founded by a papal charter was Toulouse, established in 1229. Toulouse was strengthened by the Parisian secession in 1229 to 1231. The scholars favored its teachings of civil law, which were forbidden in Paris. However, Toulouse ultimately declined in the fifteenth century (Gabriel 285). Princes who wished to establish a school in their name were mainly responsible for the foundation of paper universities, the third manner of origin (Gabriel 285). The course of study for a medieval student was much different than that of todays student. History and social science courses were nonexistent. However, the student was expected to be fluent in Latin and learned in Latin grammar before attending a university. Higher education limited to males, he was to spend four years studying the basic liberal arts, completing advanced work in Latin grammar and rhetoric as well as studying the rules of logic. After passing examinations, the student received his degree of Bachelor of Arts, the prototype for todays B. A. Some students pursued advanced degrees to ensure themselves a place in professional life. The Master of Arts degree, or M. A, required three or four years of the study of mathematics, natural science, and philosophy. Doctorates required more specialized training. For example, a doctorate in theology required about twenty years of total schooling at the University of Paris. However, doctorates, including the degree in medicine, only gave the student the right to teach. Despite their intended purpose, all university degrees were recognized as great achievements and could lead to nonacademic careers (Binnell 3). Information gathered from various sources indicates that the life of the medieval student, seemingly rough, primitive, and violent, was surprisingly fundamentally similar to the life of todays students. Many students sent letters home to their parents begging them for assistance. Letters from disapproving parents have also been found which expressed the parents frustration with their underachieving sons (Thompson and Johnson 735). Again like today, medieval universities granted funds to poorer students allowing them the privilege of higher education. Medieval students also ranged significantly in age, from as young as fifteen to as old as twenty or twenty-five years of age (Dahmus 569). Many people criticized the student population and its behavior. Students were said to be violent and quarrelsome, disturbing and attacking citizens and laymen. Armed, the students even fought each other over almost anything, especially women. Students spent much time gambling, drinking, and engaging in less than celibate behavior. However, the rowdies, attracting a disproportionate amount of attention, dominated the medieval universities no more than they dominate todays universities. Serious students were much more plentiful (Thompson and Johnson 736). The importance of this medieval invention is beyond measure. The university has substantially aided in the heightening of civilization and has become an educational icon of the twentieth century. The medieval university continues to influence the education of todays scholars. As said by the late Professor Haskins, todays universities, like medieval universities, are still associations of masters and scholars leading the common life of learning (qtd. in Dahmus 571). In conclusion, both the medieval and modern university represent the most powerful influences upon the intellectual life of their times. Works Cited Previte-Orton, C. W. The Shorter Cambridge Medieval History. 2 vols. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1953. Beeler, Stan. Scholarship and Education in Medieval Europe. Online. Internet. 10 April 1999. Available: http://quarles. unbc. ca/ideas/net/history/medieval. htm .EDU Binnell, Brynn. Discussion Document: Is University Life Any Different Today than it was Yesterday?. Online. Internet. 10 April 1999. Available: http://sunsite. wits. ac. za/wits/alumni/med_univ. html Gabriel, Astrik L. Universities. Middle Ages Dictionary. 1989. Hyde, J. K. Bologna, University of. Middle Ages Dictionary. 1989. Thompson, James Westfall, and Edgar Nathaniel Johnson. An Introduction to Medieval Europe. New York: W. W. Nortan Company, Inc. , 1937. Dahmus, Joseph H. A History of Medieval Civilization. New York: The Odyssey Press, Inc. , 1964.

Movie Review: “Water” by Deepa Mehta

Movie Review: â€Å"Water† by Deepa Mehta Deepa Mehta is an Indian-born film director who lives and works inCanada. In 2005 her film Water was released. Water is the third and the last part of her Elements trilogy. The trilogy consists of three films: Fire (1996), Earth (1998) and Water (2005). All three films are dedicated toIndia: its history, culture, religion and the problems that arise in the country and in the society particularly due to different reasons. Water, the last part of the trilogy, concentrates on the social state of a woman in Indian society, especially on the social position of a widow. The film tells us about a small eight-year-old girl who was unlucky to become a widow at the very beginning of her life. Life of widows is not only difficult, it is also rather unfair. She cannot live with her parents. Chuyia has to spend the rest of her life in ashram a special institution for women like her widows who cannot even talk to other men, women who must be imprisoned in ashram in order to atone their sins. The se sins are considered to be the reason of their husbands deaths. Unfortunately Chuyia is not lucky at all. The ashram she lives in is ruled by a woman who is unaware of moral qualities of a woman and of a human in general. Madhumatis friends are scoundrels, transvestites and pimps. She sells the widows under her care to men, the permanent clients of the ashram. Chuyia sees and understands everything. She also comprehends that one day that will also become her fate. The girl is surrounded by different people and some of them are really good. A young, very attractive woman whose name is Kalyani becomes her friend. She also has to work as a prostitute but theres no choice for widows in ashram they do what they are told to do. Kalyani is young and her heart did not go to the grave with her husband. She lives, she breaths and she wants to live a full life. The tragic situation in which women find themselves is emphasized by her strong feeling towards Narayan a handsome man who falls i n love with beautiful Kalyani. The man is rather sure of his feelings. His firm intention is to rescue the woman by marrying her. A really controversial situation is depicted in the picture. Kalyani wants to be with Narayan as much as he does. Though she is not sure about her future life at all. She knows that her religion and the society she lives in prescribe her to hide from other people till the very end of her life. She has no right to love, no right to live a full life. On the other hand the soul of a loving woman tells the opposite things. That is a real problem that young Indian women face. Unfortunately it is next to impossible to deal with such superstitions and public opinion. There is no happy end in the story: Kalyani learns that Narayans father was one of her clients. There is a tragic pause: nobody knows what to do next. But the woman makes her decision: there is no reason to live. She kills herself. All these tragic events are observed by a small Chuyia. The girl rea lizes all the hopelessness and desperation of her future life. That may also happen to her. The question is left open. Works cited    Deepa Mehta impresses with Water. Accessed 7 May 2010; available from http://inhome.rediff.com/movies/2007/mar /09water.htm; Internet.

The Merchant of Venice Essay example -- Merchant of Venice Essays

William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice is one of his most controversial plays for a variety of reasons. Written in sixteenth-century England, where anti-Semitism was common and the presence of Jews was not, the play poses many questions concerning racial, religious and human difference. The play is especially tricky to examine in today’s society, as its anti-Semitic themes and language can be uncomfortable to face in a world post-Holocaust. Additionally, the depiction of the relationship between Jews and Christians, which has always been an ambivalent one, adds a very interesting albeit difficult dimension to this play. Ultimately, through dramatic plot and distinctive characters, The Merchant of Venice explores what it means to be Jewish and what it means to be Christian. A closer analysis of these opposing groups unearths inconsistencies between what the characters preach versus what they practice, as well as their problematic notions of justice, mercy and love. Though he clearly fulfills the role of the villain and main antagonist in this play, the character of Shylock is extremely complex and multi-dimensional. He seems to have two sides that can be emphasized or played up in order to create a fundamentally different play, as has been done many times throughout history; post-Holocaust reproductions, for example, are obviously radically unlike than ones that may have come before (Rich 1). In most modern adaptations, Shylock is seen as a sympathetic character, perhaps due in part to the widespread acceptance in most modern societies of those from varying religious and racial backgrounds. However, it is entirely possible that Shakespeare, who was a genius playwright famous for his complex and multi-faceted characters, del... ... actually considered this a happy ending for the Shylock character (4); by converting he is â€Å"saved† from the possibility that â€Å"misfortune [may] cross†¦ / †¦ a faithless Jew† (2.4.35-37). This paper barely scratched the surface of the religious and moral complexity that is The Merchant of Venice, but it is clearly a complicated play and for many reasons: the racially charged tension, the anti-Semitic language and the morally ambiguous characters. What makes this play so exciting is that it provides neither answers nor apologies, provoking the ongoing disagreement as to what is really happening in this play. Shakespeare’s multi-layered characters and complicated representations of mercy, justice, love, religion and difference produce a remarkable piece of work that has kept people talking and guessing for centuries, and is sure to continue to for centuries to come.

Tears, Idle Tears :: Tears, Idle Tears

Everyone should have his own characteristics. Some of those characteristics should be positive while some should be negative, and they might be changed as time passes and things happens. Throughout the  Ã‚   story "Tears, Idle Tears" , the author shows that   Mrs.Dickinson has characteristics of a beautiful, independent and demanding person.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is so common to describe a woman a beautiful. Especially when Mrs.Dickinson is a typical model of beauty. She is well fashioned in what she wears, she has real good dressings. "She was a gallant-looking woman, wearing to-day in London a coat and skirt, a silver fox, white gloves and a dark-blue toque put on exactly right".(P110) As a model of beauty, she is also very attractive on herself. "She was a charming woman walking by herself". (P112) Because she is such a good looking, lovely woman, there is no question that many men couldn’t resist her attractiveness and want to marry with her. "Several man wanted to marrt her".(P113)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Mrs.Dickinson is a widow because her husband died in a plane crash. That makes her to be a independent person. After the death of her husband, she has no help in anyway. She tend take care of the family by herself. Financially, she has to go out and work, she has two jobs which will earn her money to live. "She helped a friend with a little hat shop......bred puppies for sale". Emotionally, she is independent. Her son, Frederick, is the only one lives with her. She hasn’t marry any other man in five years after the death of her husband. "It was five years since her tragedy and she had not married." (P112) She also try to raise her son by herslef. There is no baby-sister to take care of Frederick. She is the only one who puts Federick on first place. "But you see, there’s Frederick. He’s the man in my life now. I’m bound to put him firstt". (P113) As she becomes a widow, she try to do everything on herslef, without anyone’s help.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   By reading the story, it is so easy to realize that Mrs.Dickinson is a bery demanding person. Demanding is not a bad thing, but she is doing it at a wrong way. She is have too much demands on Frederick. As Frederick cries, she demands him to stop cring. "Frederick, you can’t --- in the middle of Regents’s park".

Does Delegated Legislation Represent a Threat to the Democratic Process

Delegated legislation is the power delegated by Parliament to some person or body to make law. The Act of Parliament that enacts a valid piece of delegated legislation, and the latter itself, both have the same legal force and effect. Parliament retains general control over the procedure for enacting such law. There are various types of delegated legislation. Orders in Council, Statutory Instruments, Bye-laws, Court Rule Committees, Professional regulations. It is essential to focus on the facts that specific controls have been established to oversee an unjust or inapplicable delegated legislation. Apart from the parliamentary control of the Join Select Committee on Statutory Instruments, Courts can also challenge ultra vires provisions through judicial review. Due to the complex nature of the delegated legislation, there are contradicting opinions about its democratic –or not- characteristics. Some people argue that as long as there is some control over delegated legislation not only by Parliament by more importantly by judiciary, this kind of legislation doesn’t seem to threaten the democratic process. In fact, given the pressure and waste of time on debating, it is more beneficial for the government to spend its precious time in a thorough consideration of the principles of the enabling Act, leaving the appropriate minister or body to establish the working details. The time saving and the fact that particular problems are faced swiftly from the minister or body overview ...

Mistakes Promote Progression Essay

Mistakes made are lessons learned, not the other way around. According to Scientific American’s numerous experiments, they came to the conclusion that when mistakes are made, one better remembers the correct answer or decision. Alexander Pope suggests that â€Å"a man should never be ashamed to own he has been A man should never be ashamed to own he has been in the wrong, which is but saying, in other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday.† In life, one strives for the correct answer or the correct choice, but how can this be identified if one does not even know of the possible mistakes? To get a correct answer on a test almost has the same value as guessing correctly. Without making a mistake, there is no proof of sole knowledge. Mistakes aid in recovery, as well as progression. Furthermore, Henry L. Roediger and Bridgid Finn conduct several experiments on students in regards to study habits and pretesting effects. In one of their experiments, students were given 8 seconds to study different word pairs, such as ‘star-night,’ and ‘factory-plant’. When they were asked to pair the word ‘star’, approximately 5% of the students answered correctly. However, when they were given the same amount of time to read over the pairs once more, all of them correctly matched the pairs. This proves that making mistakes show students what the wrong answers are in order to answer correctly. In addition, when studying flashcards for a test of some sort, one should memorize the answers to each side of the card. However, when studying the first time around it is often difficult to have the right response to every single card. After going through each card a few times, the answers become more fluent in your mind and it is later easier to remember the responses  for the test. When one does not answer the question correctly while studying, the wrong answer sticks in the mind. As a result, the next time the same card comes around, one knows the wrong answer and is more likely to answer correctly. Making mistakes promotes success and progression. Making the wrong choices give the individual experience; perhaps even wisdom. Mistakes are key to making right decisions, proving that, â€Å"in other words, he is wiser today than he was yesterday.

Social Policy and Its Application to Social Services Provision

Private problems become public issues when an individual’s problem/problems spill out into the community for example youth homelessness. Youth homelessness is greater than you might think in May 2008 it was thought that there were over 75000 youths at risk of becoming homeless, mostly due to the breakdown of the family or the introduction of a step family, 65% of these young people experienced violence as their family broke down and 20% experienced sexual abuse. The really sad thing about the number of youths at risk of homelessness is, in order to be detected as at risk something extreme has to happen e. g. the young homeless person was arrested for causing a disturbance or ends up in hospital after a violent incident. Mostly when families breakdown we as a community know nothing about it (their family problems are kept private) this becomes a public issue which may require the creation of a â€Å"policy for dealing with social issues†, when we see young people sleeping rough or the crime rate increases as the homeless person steals to feed them self. Over the years there has been significant research and development of policies which are aimed at combating homelessness among the 16-25 year olds and in 2002 the homelessness Act was endorsed by the Scottish parliament after it was highlighted that the numbers of homeless people sleeping rough in our cities, could affect the tourist trade, which in turn would affect our economy, this act extended the definition of priority need to include new groups of vulnerable people including youths. This Homeless act means that young people are no longer turned away from hostels; in fact there are hostels that are just for young people (these hostels help protect the young people on the streets from abuse i. e. prostitution) This homeless act also made local authorities develop homeless strategies e. g. the housing and support team that we have in West Lothian. Due to new policy the numbers of young people sleeping on the streets is few, and the ease of access to information/services means homeless people have hope and can access services before they actually become homeless, which in turn combats drug/alcohol abuse (which also relieves pressure off the NHS) and crime statics. 2. Social policies come about due to various influences. Nationwide statics are gathered for various reasons and as a result these figures/statics can and do bring around change in policy or even the implementation of new olicies e. g. it was found that the number of people binge drinking and requiring hospital treatment was on the rise, so the government created a policy that it was illegal to have happy hours in bar’s and it was illegal for shops to have two for one offers on alcohol. Another way the government is influenced to change or create policy is through pressure groups. Pressure groups don’t have to be official bodies or organisations like â⠂¬Å"fathers for justice†, they can be a group of people who are concerned about an issue in their community e. . a group of concerned parents petitioning the government about the lack of services for teenagers in their area (youth club) due to the planned closure of the community centre. Social policies can also come about if there is a threat to society e. g. terrorism, after 9/11 the pass port policy changed, before 9/11 children were able to travel on their parents passport, after 9/11 the policy changed and now everyone needs a passport regardless of age. Before 9/11 we could travel within our own country (Glasgow-London) without a passport now we can’t. Policies have also changed after public outcry. After the abduction, rape and murder of a child in England by a convicted paedophile, who had been housed in the area on his release from prison. The policy that gave these people anonymity was reviewed and changed, so that anyone who is concerned about an adult, who is working with children, can ask the police if they are a risk. 3. The mixed economy of care came about due to the governments of the 1980s being concerned that the place for the care of people should be provided from within their communities and that the â€Å"sense of community† would be lost as people stopped â€Å"looking after their own†. People would stop contributing charitably to the community and the people in it ( popping in on a neighbour to give her a break from her ill husband or running to the shop for an older person as well as fund raising and legacies), as it would become taken for granted that the state would provide everything i. e. ousing and Health Care as well as meals on wheels and respite, as a result, people would not feel like it was their job to help themselves, their community or their neighbours, that it was the states job, and so the fear was the sense of community would be lost to dependency on the state. The mixed economy of care means that different services collaborate/works together in order to provid e a service for an individual which not only meets their needs, but makes sure that the care being provided doesn’t over lap i. e. one care plan is made for the individual and all the required services work within this plan. Our government as it is now (2009) has picked up where the 1980/90s left off (they carried on where the last government left off instead of returning to state provided care) and is working towards a â€Å"mixed economy of care†, it has identified 4 sectors of care provision i. e. statutory, private, voluntary and informal. The statutory sector is care what is provided by the state for example benefits, cars for the disabled and access to health care e. g. occupational health (home adaptations). The private sector offers care as part of a business for example private nursing care, respite and private pensions. The voluntary/charity sector provide care that is funded through fundraising and donations and offers things like lunch clubs (help the aged), meals on wheels (WRVS) and hospital transport (red cross). The final sector, the informal sector comes by way of care provided by a non professional/specialist; this could be family, the community (neighbours) or friends who give up their time to look after their community and the people in it. The informal sector saves the government and NHS millions of pounds every year as their contribution relieves the need for official respite services and health care and it’s free. The Community Care Act 1990 came about as in order to fulfil the recommendations /objectives that the white paper (1989) Caring for People had identified (the enabling of older people to live independently for as long as possible in their own home, practical support for carers, guidelines for quality individual needs assessments and accountability for service providers and the quality of care they provide) new legislation was needed, thus the community care act (1990) was passed. Nowadays we see people living and working in our community who, not so many years ago, would have lived their lives in institutions or sanatoriums without any human rights or even choice, but now with implementation of individual/ person centred care plans/assessments, designed with the individuals needs, rights, circumstance and abilities in mind, as well as making access to different care services more easily available e. g. upported accommodation/residential nursing care, benefits, disabled employment (Remploy), occupational therapy, day care and befriending, not only are the individuals needs being met, the human rights of these individuals are being recognised. The individuals who were once locked away from the rest of society without any rights, choices or quality of life are now (with a little help from the care in the community act) living, working (Remploy) and contributing in and to communities (Volunteering in a charity shop). 4. Funding for different care services comes from various sources for example the services that are state/government services e. g. benefits, NHS departments (occupational therapy) and pensions are funded mostly through income tax, VAT, and national insurance, but not all of these services are completely free for example an older person who requires residential care will have to contribute financially if they have enough of an income or assets to cover the cost, they will also receive little or no help financially if they have a private pension i. e. they will have to pay for glasses and prescriptions. Funding for the local authority care services is much the same as central government funding comes firstly from the annual government grants as detailed in the 2009, amendment of the local government finance act 1992 Scotland order. Funding also comes from council tax income, business rates, licensing (alcohol) and recycling. While all this income generates wealth it does not mean everything is free and individuals will still contribute via user charges. Voluntary/charitable organisations also contribute to care services through fund raising and free care service i. . volunteers. There is also the Scottish post code lottery which has funded community projects as has the national lottery. Legacies also contribute to the financing of a service. 5. European commission was established in 1954 and has members from every country in Europe (two from the UK) its job is to form policy and legislation that protects the individuals’ human rights. They give the country an amount of time t o comply adequately to any new policy/legislation, before the country is taken to the human rights court e. g. he Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment, in employment and occupation. The minimum standard (directive) as stated by the EC included the protection of equal rights. The regulations (which must be implemented immediately) for this act included equal employment opportunities (promotion). Sometimes new legislations/policies cost money to implement and it falls to the local authority to decide how best to do this, finding the money often results in other services suffering through smaller grants e. . the promotion of electricity produced from renewable energy sources (â€Å"Renewables Directive†) the local authorities are obligated to implement these directives within a set time frame. The local authorities have to find the money, this is usually through council tax and money they make through council busin ess e. g. Neighbourhood Recycling, this in turn affects the care service and volunteer services by reducing the budget or funding they receive and possibly a rise in taxes and rates. The guide lines that come from the EC are a bit like expectations for example the government/EC expects local planners, architects and developers to take into account crime prevention when designing streets for example, this is to provide a safe and secure environment (your human right to live in a safe/secure environment) The duty to make this happen falls on local authority that, for example would have street/security lighting and the installation of CCTV as a condition of the planning application or they could create a local policy that says new housing schemes will only receive planning approval if there is security lighting fitted as standard.

Consuming Kids

Consuming Kids The video documentary â€Å"Consuming Kids† highlights the impact of media and advertising on the health and well-being of children. Advertising has critically changed comparing from the past to today, as it penetrates children more than adults. Companies have decided to deliver their advertisements to children due to their vulnerable minds. The techniques companies use to attach a child with their advertisement is by using famous role models equipped with their product. This influences a child to grasp that product and evidently the same child becomes a consistent consumer in the marketing world.Not only is advertisement publicized on TV but, also on the internet and cellular mobile devices, making it harder for a parent to neglect its unwanted presence. Science is involved in this documentary as scientists use the â€Å"blinking experiment† to analyze the child’s attention rate. Scientist have mentioned that advertisers use round figures througho ut their commercial, as it has been found that children are attracted to this shape; making it harder for them to neglect the purpose of the advertisement. This is only a small contribution of how advertising has used symbolism to support its function.Using symbolism within an advertisement is very clever because it not only portrays the significance of the product but, portrays the â€Å"positive† lifestyle given when the product is purchased. Age compression plays a huge role in the marketing scheme, as it provokes young kids to feel older, making the product more suitable for the younger consumers. Advertisements affect a children’s mind negatively, as it can impact their vocabulary, cause them to lose their concentration span and eventually diagnose them with ADHD.In this documentary I was able to recognize and understand each and every perspective of how advertisements are abusing children. The media claims that parents are ultimately responsible for what their ch ildren watch, wear, and eat. I believe this is not true, because realistically a parent is unable to guard their child from advertisements every minute of the day. There is a likely chance that advertisement can be viewed at public locations like schools or daycares, making it harder to repel your child from advertisements. From this point, only the government has the ability to control such advertisements.As a society we should embrace the conflict raised from the media and publicize the negative effects of a child watching advertisements. We should ban the usage of advertisements used in schools and daycares so, children are not affected by them. A letter concerning the vital information about the documentary should be sent out to every family, so parents are aware of this cause. What shocked me the most, was the disturbing picture of the little girl who claims she’s trying to be sexy. This picture portrayed a young female child with her back pointing to the camera without a shirt.As soon as I recognized that, my point of view on advertisements harming children has changed enormously. There should be no reason for children to dress inappropriately in modern society. Yes, I feel like I have been affected by advertisements throughout my childhood. From a very young age of 6, I was behaving like the young boys shown in the documentary. Similar to them, I would also commit to violence and aggressive materials, such as movies and video games. At the time, it felt normal but now recognizing the effect of advertisement I am able to comprehend that I was under the influence of media.

Reading Body Language in Poker Essay

Body language is a part of nonverbal language. It includes things like stance, gestures, facial expressions, and even small things that are barely perceptible like a brief shrug of the shoulder or nod of the head. We frequently communicate both bodily and verbally and an estimated 70% of what we communicate may be nonverbal. There have been hundreds of books on body language but not many in poker. So this is a small attempt to put information that I have learnt while learning to read people at a poker table. I started by straight away applying the basic body language reads to a poker table like when a person leans in; it is sign of confidence, hence it translated that the player most likely has good cards. Another classic example is when a person rubs his hands after seeing his cards; this is sign that he is so excited to see the card that he can’t wait to play their cards. In short, a poker table is much like real world scenarios like class room, office, college, etc. When a player at a poker table gives away body language information, it is called a tell. So reading a player for tells is crucial for poker player’s game. Below is the order in which I read people at a poker table: 1. Feet and Legs (Most reliable) 2. Arms and Hands 3. Mouth 4. Eyes 5. Pacifying Behaviours (Least Reliable) Nice Legs! This is the most honest part of the body and can give loads of information. Most people while reading a person start from the top and scan towards the bottom. But believe me the other way round works much better and is far more reliable. Most people go to great lengths to hide what is on their faces but rarely do they focus on their legs. Legs carry so much information that it is relied upon by most pros and ignored by most amateurs in poker. Below are some of the common tells that you can spot at a poker table: * If a person has pointed his feet forward and after he receives his cards turns it away, it is clear sign of disengagement and he no longer wants to be involved in the hand. * If a person is constantly wiggling and bouncing his legs and then suddenly stops and pays attention, this is a sign that the person is about to bluff. * If a person’s feet go from flat to raised position – resting feet flat to raised heels/toes forward means that the person is ready to act. * When a person interlocks his feet, this is sign of nervousness. This means that the person is holding weak or marginal cards. * A variation of the above is after a person bets (a big bet) he wraps his legs around the legs of the chairs or table, it may suggest that he is bluffing. They are restraining themselves because they think other will detect his bluff. * When a player moves his feet positioned in front of his chair to under the chair indicates signs of weakness or bluffing. Let’s Get Our Hands Dirty Hands are an intimate part of poker. They are constantly moving and interacting with the chips and cards on the table, and sometimes even with players. Hands can reveal a lot of information. * Interlacing fingers behind the head is a very strong sign that the player is confident. So if you deciding to bluff don’t try it on this player. * When a player does a hand steeple, this is also another high confidence tell. * Interlacing of fingers and hand wringing is a sign of low confidence. * When a person looks at his cards and his hands tremble or reaching for chips and his hands are trembling, is a sign that he has great cards or as in poker we call it monsters. His hands got scared of the monster! Lips Don’t Lie Mouth are a great reading tool for tells in poker but as you come from the feet to the face, the tells get that much less reliable because players will be a lot more conscious of their tells when it comes to their face. The tells listed below are some of the classic tells in poker however one should tread cautiously when one is applying in a real game. * When a person smiles pulling his lips and there is no movement around his eyes is a classic tell of dishonesty (fake smile). Remember it is very difficult to pull off a full smile when you are unhappy so when you see a full smile with the corners of the eyes involved you can be sure he is honest about his representations on the table. * When a person presses his lips together is an indicator of high stress and low confidence. * Nail biting is another sign of low confidence. * Lip biting is a good indicator of stress and concern. * A subtle tell of lips are lip withdrawal; they indicate that stress is settling in slowly. * Lip licking and biting of objects like pen or chips are signs of pacifying when there is concern. * Tongue jetting out is another tell which indicates that the player got away with something. Eyes Are the Windows to the Soul Eyes are very good barometer of our feelings because we have very little control over them. I rely on eyes as an indicator often in my game. Here are some fool proof tells that I have used before: * When a player blocks his eyes either by closing his lids or blocking it with his fingers or palm or object, it is a sign that he does not want to see what’s coming. * This tell might take some used to getting used to but watching the eyes for dilation or constriction is 100% method to get the information out of your opponent. Remember when we like something our eyes dilate and when we don’t like something it constricts. So if a player is dissatisfied with his cards, his pupils will constrict. * Squinting of eyes indicate high concern. * Lowering of eyebrows is a sign of low confidence. * Arching of eyebrows is a good indication of positive feelings. Pacifying Behaviours These are the least reliable because most of the pacifying behaviours are just indicators of soothing oneself or discomfort at the maximum. Pacifying behaviours are done by players who are bluffing or players who are not. Hence, it must not be used in isolation and using them with other tells is the right way to go. * Touching the neck in the front and the back, exhaling through puffed cheeks and touching the face, forehead rubbing and earlobe pulling, air ventilating to the neck are good signs distress and pacifying. * Women will check the dimple on the neck when they are highly stressed or are fearful. Playing with a necklace or any neck jewelry is indicative of the same. Men will adjust their tie knots. Common Mistakes while Reading People 1. Not establishing baselines This is the most common mistake people do while reading people. Baselines are crucial in the field of body language. A person who usually bites his nails or bites his lips on a poker table will probably do the same, hence, must not be mistaken for weak hand or stress setting or low confidence. Hence, before reading any person a baseline must be established. 2. Reading tells in isolation Another mistake people do reading tells in isolation. You cannot expect a tell to occur in a person nor can you read a tell in isolation like biting lips. It should be congruent with what’s happening on the table and in reaction to what others are doing. In other words, you must ask yourself what was the motivation behind him giving away a particular tell. 3. Reading is not an exact science One of the essential skills in poker is reading your opponent but there are other aspects to the game like game theory, probability which has to be taken to account. Reading should always be used as one of your tools in making your decisions at a poker table. REFERENCES 1. Body Language: How to Read Others Thoughts by Their Gestures. Allan Pease. 1988. Sheldon Press 2. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-body-language.htm 3. Body Language. Julius Fast (1971). Pocket Books. 4. Unmasking the Face: A Guide to recognizing emotions from Facial Expressions. Paul Ekman and Wallace V. Freisen (2003). 5. Secret of No Limit Holdem: An ultimate guide to all-in texas hold’em poker. Howard Lederer. 6. Read’em and Reap: A Career FBI Agent’s Guide to Decoding Poker Tells. Joe Navarro and Marvin Karlins.

Chinese Gender Imbalance Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Chinese Gender Imbalance - Research Paper Example The implementation of one-child policy in China reduced the population into 1.3 billion after nearly 30 years. Government officials consider strict family planning policies as essential for economic growth of the country. This policy is accompanied by vigorous campaigns emphasizing the need for individual sacrifice for collective good (Stein, 1995, p. 31). China became one of the largest economies worldwide due to its effective implementation of policies (Chang, 2008, p. 10). However, China’s one-child policy currently threatens the gender balance of the country. Zhang Weiqing, â€Å"National Population and Family Planning Commission† Minister, stresses the intention of the country to implement this policy (as cited in Chang, 2008, p. 10). This paper aims to highlight the relationship between population and gender in China. It outlines how the government’s effort to reduce the country’s population leads to gender imbalance. The paper thoroughly explores the one-child policy and how it contributed to gender imbalance. In addition, it highlights the couple’s preference for a son as a mediating variable in the relationship between population and gender. Lastly, the paper outlines the adverse effects of gender imbalance.

GE and the Honeywell. Argument For And Against The Commission Decision Essay

GE and the Honeywell. Argument For And Against The Commission Decision - Essay Example According to Pfanz (2001), the categories of bundling might have included pure and mixed. Indeed, as the paper progresses it would be simpler to deduce the category. The Commission suggested that the bundling technique would have many pleasant effects on the merged GE and Honeywell’s competitors in the markets for aerospace equipment and jet engines. This is because the rivals’ market shares would be eroded by their incapability to compete with the joined entity package deals, which in turn would lower the profitability of their rivals leading to their exit (Schlossberg & American Bar Association. Section of Antitrust Law 2008, p. 17). The Commission thought that the ability of the company to employ bundling would enable the combined corporate to offer complimentary goods at a reduced price compared to when the products are sold separately. The Commission suggested that bundling would lower the revenues for the GE’s and Honey well’s Competitors in the market. The reduction of revenues would be advantageous to the companies since it would reduce their competitors’ ability to invest. Moreover, it would augment the companies’ capabilities of competing effectively. According to the Commission’s view, the prices could rise in future, and this would cause harm to their rivals and customers in the market. From the Commission’s presentation, bundling would have an ultimate effect of shutting out markets for the competitors who deals with single line of products. Such foreclose would help in the decrease of investments by other competitors or even eliminate them. The Commission pre dicted that the combined business would have incentives by bundling its companies’ products. This would make its competitors to be less competitive by depriving then revenues. This implies that the firms that have been deprived their revenues would not cover their fixed cost. He argued that this would be advantageous to the EG and Honeywell, since it would have unpleasant effects on their competitors spending and thus they would not compete effectively in future. In his argument, the Commission proved his points by providing proof that Honeywell uses bundling in strategic way called â€Å"multi-product† bids. Moreover, the Commission got evidence from the companies’ competitors proving that they faced Honeywell bundling, which made it difficult for them to compete. Therefore, the Commission said that if bundling were to continue, their rivals would withdraw particularly the Rockwell Collins Company

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An American Prisoner of War, World War II, Held by the Japanese - Research Paper Example Even I had been getting letters quite frequently from my family in Wisconsin, but circumstances, kept me from going back even after United States had declared war on the Japanese. The canons were now faced in the direction of the seas and the British Navy were ready for the Japanese onslaught – or at least, they thought they were, until the day of reckoning for a thousand Singaporeans came on 8th February, 2942. The British troops were outsmarted by the Japanese as their troops made their way into Singapore on bicycles and after making their way through the heavy marshes and swamps of the Malay Peninsula, the Japanese took the British army by surprise. There were many stories going on about the barbarity of the Japanese army and word got around that the Japanese were not interested in taking prisoners any more. i A pamphlet was distributed amongst the Japanese that I also got to see for myself, which apparently was an ominous command that specifically told them to see their victims as the murderers of their fathers and not hold themselves back from killing them, which will lighten their hearts. ii I only understood the real meaning of the text after I was forced to learn Japanese in the camps, but these were just the tip of the ice berg of the blatant savagery that they had inflicted on the people there. This spelled a disaster for everyone in the peninsula and being on the outskirts of Bukit Timah, I had become accustomed to the sounds of gun shots and explosion in the distance. The violence was rapidly expanding. The Singaporeans put up a final stand against Japan in the battle of Bukit Chandu headed by General Adnan, where the Japanese disguised themselves as Punjabi troops and were compromised. Despite the fact that the Punjabi troops launched an excellent defensive attack, they outmaneuvered by the Japanese and then their

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Module 5 case assignment - Coursework Example This paper aims at analyzing the feedback loops and organizational learning opportunities for the Whole Foods, an American based foods supermarkets chain. As noted earlier, reinforcing feedback loop makes an organization to acquire significant growth thus putting at bay its rivals in the market while at the same time enjoying product diversification. Additionally, reinforcing loop takes place when an original change is reinvested to further bring about change in the future (Bellinger, 2004). One of the notable aspects of the reinforcing loop is that they create a momentum. In this way, they ensure that activities within the firm are kept in motion thus ensuring there are limited delays and the consumers can get their brands on a regular basis. In their efforts to satisfy the needs of the customers, firms use the feedback from their consumers to improve the quality of their brands. Given the need to attract more customers, Whole Foods Market is focused at establishing new lower cost store as a way of serving the younger perennial shoppers. According to the management, once the new store is launched, and extensive promotion is undertake n, more potential consumers will encounter fresh foods, which will be the major products in the store. Through the word of mouth marketing, more Whole Foods adopters will ultimately emerge in the future. Another example of a reinforcing feedback loop that is applied by Whole Foods Market is based on the high US population. As the population is high, more children will be born who are potential consumers. Once they become adults, these children will also bear children. This implies that the demand for the supermarket products will continue to expand. On its part, the balancing feedback loop, which entails circles of cause and effect, has the objective of countering a change that includes a push in the opposite direction. As the push is made harder, the system on its part pushes back resulting to the

Impact of different variables on the economic growth of Sweden Dissertation

Impact of different variables on the economic growth of Sweden - Dissertation Example This paper has conducted a comprehensive research on finding out the effects of tax policies, employment and wages on the level of economic growth of Sweden. Using empirical data, it has been found that economic growth of Sweden does not depend on tax policy, employment status and wages. I. INTRODUCTION Sweden is a very economically significant country in the world. Although it is a very small country, it experiences significant economic growth. A very interesting thing to note about Swedish economy is the dispute over the character of the economic system of Sweden. Its economic system can not be characterized as a complete socialism or pure capitalism. In Sweden private sector dominates in all production areas. In fact, around ninety percent of total production in this country is produced in private sector. Looking at the dominance of private sector, it seems that there prevails full corporatism in Sweden. But the interesting thing is that majority of production in private sector, a round fifty percent, is exposed to state controls. Looking at this nature of Swedish economy, it is some times characterized as a system of welfare state socialism. Some, however, like to view this system as welfare state corporatism. ... Government undertakes various policies relating to tax, employment and wages. Tax accounts for a major place in fiscal policies. While in one hand, tax is an important source of revenue to the government, on the other hand it also reduces consumer purchasing power by reducing disposable income. Hence, changes in tax policy will definitely have effect on consumer purchasing behavior, and therefore, on aggregate demand of the economy and consequently on GDP of the country. Employment and economic growth has a strong association as well. In fact, there is a cyclical relationship between employment and economic growth where both are dependent on one another. While the level of employment of a country is dependent to a large extent on the level of economic growth, economic growth is also affected by various employment policies. Economic growth of a country is also related to wage level. While some think that a path of low wage can lead to economic growth, some others feel that a high wage economy is more efficient in achieving higher growth. Hence the level of growth of an economy is also dependent on wage policies taken by the government. In Sweden government has a significant role to play in controlling various economic operations. Hence, economic growth of Sweden can well be expected to be dependent on various economic policies undertaken by the government of the country. Hence, it can be assumed that governmental policies in the areas of taxes, employment and wages, produce some impact on economic growth. Aim and objectives It would be, therefore, quite interesting, to find out how tax policies, employment and wages affect economic growth of Sweden. Since the economy of Sweden can not be characterized as a nation which is fully controlled

International Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

International Law - Essay Example In order to determine whether or not the state has a right to use self-defence against a non-state actor under contemporary international law, the theory of jus ad bellum within the context of the UN Charter, Article 51 will have to examined. This paper will argue that the principle characteristics of the theory of jus ad bellum and Article 51, although design to control hostilities between states, can be interpreted to permit the use of military force in self-defence against non-state actors. The theory jus ad bellum is a evolved from Western cultures as a guide for reconciling â€Å"right with might† or â€Å"sollen with sein.†5 The primary objective of the doctrine of jus ad bellum was to cultivate a concept that military force was only justified in response to unprovoked aggression. Likewise, military force could be legitimately used for the purpose of restoring order or correcting a violated right. Military force could also be used legitimately for punitive reason.6 Taken together as a whole, the theory of jus ad bellum dictates generally that military force could legitimately be used for humanitarian intervention and for protection of sovereignty. After the Second World War, the United Nations was formed by virtue of the UN Charter which ultimately re-introduced and reconstructed the ambit of jus ad bellum.7 The primary purpose of the UN was to prevent war among the nations of the world.8 Following the 1990s Kosovo conflict International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty modified the UN Charter setting restraints for the exceptions to the UN’s policy on permissible military force between states under the auspices of jus ad bellum. Under the UN Charter the contemporary concept of just war of jus ad bellum dictates merely that war can no longer be justified on the grounds of humanitarian intervention, but for purposes of self defence.9 The UN Charter was implemented on October 24,

Feild Experience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Feild Experience - Essay Example viduals, both students and teachers, to take responsibility for their own conflicts and for their resolution (Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution & Conflict Management, n.d.). This paper relates three scenarios depicting student/student, teacher/student, and teacher/teacher conflicts and how they were resolved. The author’s opinions are expressed in either agreement or disagreement with the manner of conflict resolution, as well as presents recommendations for conflict resolution at the end of the paper. A 6th grade student named Anne, said she had a headache and wanted to skip the last two classes of the day. As I came into the room, Anne’s teacher was already arguing with Anne. Anne said she wanted to go home and the teacher said she may not. They are at the stage of their argument where the teacher has already mentioned that if Anne continues on, the teacher would be forced to send her to the principal’s office. From what I have heard and seen since I came into the room, I was almost certain that Anne did not have a headache and was just trying to skip school. While all these were going on, the rest of the class was silent, intent on watching who would eventually win out in the argument. The teacher was deliberately trying to keep her voice down but the pitch of Anne’s voice was increasingly rising. Finally, when the teacher could not make Anne do want she wanted her to do, she told Anne to step outside so she can talk to her there. In the meantime, the teach er faced the rest of the class and gave them a seatwork which immediately elicited groans. I then stepped outside, too, to check what Anne was doing. Anne was merely standing outside the classroom. She would not be able to leave the school premises, anyway, unless she had an authorization pass from her teacher or the principal’s office. When the teacher came out, she told Anne that this would be the last time she was going to sign an authorization pass for her and told her not to come back to

Introduction To HRM 2 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Introduction To HRM 2 - Coursework Example Before review, human resource management was characterized by punishing employees who were not performing according to Cafe Co instead of training them. Employees were not highly valued but treated just like any other resource and paid minimum wages Furthermore, employee engagement and communication was not valued and human resource activities were aligned to company’s strategy only. All human resource roles were left to human resource department only. Cafe Co was only concerned with employee performance and not development. After the review, the company adopted much of the soft approach though it continued to align human resource activities to company’s strategy. Soft human resource classifies employees as special and treats them as human beings that need to be respected and trusted. Theory explains that employees’ skills need to be developed and nurtured. It also stresses better remuneration and taking good care of employees. Cafe Co accepted to adopt soft appr oach by appointing human resource representative to the company’s board. Kim adopted much of the soft approach after the review because she emphasized development of employees’ competency, advocating for increase in employee compensation and prioritized retention of employees. Employees are valued and referred to as colleagues and partners towards achievement of company’s vision and mission. ... There are a number of both advantages and disadvantages of devolving HR activities to line managers at Cafe Co. Employees are likely to receive quick response from their line managers, appropriate employees are likely to be selected because line managers are more likely to make correct decisions and there is possibility of increased employee productivity as employees concerns are responded in time. Devolving HR activities on the other hand may increase work load to the line managers, decrease importance of human resource specialists and line managers may be incompetent on human resource issues. Cafe Co is likely to benefit from devolving HR activities to line managers. Employees are likely to develop commitment and loyalty when their issues are responded to on time because they feel cared for. As a result, much of employee time will be used to work thus increasing their productiveness. Line managers are more likely to motivate and mentor their employees than overall HR specialists. H ow each of Ulrich’s HR roles could help the HR manager solve some of the problems in Cafe Co. According to Ulrich, human resource department act as a strategic partner, administrative expert, change agent as well as employee challenge (Holbeche, 2009). As a strategic partner, human resource department can align human resource initiatives and activities with mission and vision of Cafe Co. Strategic partner role informs Kim (human resource manager) to design work positions, strategic compensation and benefits, appraisal systems, succession and career planning as well as employee development to respond to the needs of the company. Strategic partner role pushes Kim to make employees to be more

All quite on Western front-Enrich Maria Remarque Essay Example for Free

All quite on Western front-Enrich Maria Remarque Essay Remarque, being a veteran German of the World War 1, could depict the physical and psychological duress, the government soldiers had to tolerate. He narrates the mental tug of war the soldiers had to bear on being detached from civic life comprising of family and friends. This mental war was allying with the field fight. Remarque in his book does not articulate heroism, but he gives a vivid description of the mental agitation the soldier goes through . having once sailed in the same ship, Remarque could feel the monotony and constant fight for life. This story relates to the kind of trauma and loneliness, the foot soldiers went through. The war had snatched their peace of mind there by causing a situation of alert all the while around them. There was an air of struggle flowing throughout, struggle for piece, struggle for victory, struggle for food and struggle for existence. Remarque remarks, the life of soldiers are always at a jolt and yet they appear old and dead being thoroughly, emotionally drained. The soldiers are here merely escaping from their own self. At this jovial age, the world of love that they had once created is brutally shattered to pieces by their own hands. The author depicts a poignant description by narrating the awe and feeling of being abandoned makes the mental state of the foot soldiers all the more morose. The protagonist of the story, Paul Baumer who was moved by his mentor, joined the German army and entangled himself into an unsigned bond of serving the country at the price of leaving behind the personal life which had just started showing the colors of youth brimming with high spirits. He had also left behind his ailing mother. But now avenues of repentance are lost. Many others like Paul had been a false prey to the futile war. This amusing anecdote throws light on the life in the trenches of the German camp. The outcome of the war brought nothing but destruction, death and needless waste of mankind. The youth directly, though bravely, encountered brutality, soiled dead bodies and evident death which might be their awaiting future. The story highlights the psychological insight resulting out of the pathetic incidences in the trenches. Though being part of the war, the protagonist and his co-mates realized the futility of the war which had brought with it a needless waste of human life in form of mass death. The trenches had a miserable and pitiable sight. The priceless human life turned valueless. Even a stone heart would surely melt at such a terrible death game. The very sight traumatizes people, but the soldiers were facing them boldly. Though trained to be tough, the soldiers break down at the loss and sufferings of the fellow beings. The cooks of the army cooks for hundred soldiers but ends up in serving eighty of them. They often show their frustration by declaring not to serve unless all hundred are present. But they realize the fact that this figure would always be a diminishing trend and complains fatality to none other than fate. The author depicts the character of Tjadesa as a carefree, apathetic person grinning over the cook’s reaction. Though it seemed that there were no trace of repercussions on Tjadesa, but it was his unnatural behavior which depicted his concern and fear. He showed joyous expressions despite the losing his comates for ever, this were out of gratitude of still being alive. Though tjedas’s behavior seemed weird, but his discrete way of accepting the inevitable losses. The ideas ejaculating out of the soldiers mind were often weird, like they felt the war should have been fought by the leaders within a ring rather than such merciless slaughtering and cruel blood shed. The futility of war has given rise to restraint traits of human like selfishness, jealousy, envy, violence and being opportunist. Eventually the brutal results of the war some how dries up the sense of morality, dignity, empathy and many such emotions in the soldiers and life becomes like an unfertile land yielding nothing grow more unfertile for days to come. Similarly wars too yield nothing but destruction, emptiness and ruined humanity. The war may end in victory but the society is held back by the rudderless youth detached from social and moral life and lives with frustrations of shattered dreams. The rumbustious youth turns into old folk. The author relates the feelings of Paula’s, â€Å"Youth! We are none of us more than twenty years old. But young? Youth? That is long ago. We are old folk. † BIBLIOGRAPHY: Erich Maria Remarque, All Quiet on the Western Front. Wikipedia- All Quiet on the Western Front. www. docshare. com.